Shoe-lace fastener and tongue-support.



No. 647,824. Patented Apr. I7, I900.

A. M. GIRTANNER.

SHOE LACE FASTENER AND TONGUE SUPPORT.

(Application filed Jan. 18, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALICE M. GIRTANNER, OF JERSEY CITY, NElV JERSEY.

SHOE-LACE FASTENER AND TONGUE-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,824, dated April 17, 1900. Application filed January 18, 1900. Serial No. 1.912. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALICE M. GIRTANNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey; have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Fasteners and Tongue-Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and ex act description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Persons accustomed to wearing laced boots and shoes are conscious of the annoyance resulting from displacement of the tongue and loosening of the lace, the former causing discomfort by the tongue gathering in puckers and pressing into the foot, and both the slipping of the tongue and the untying of the knot producing an untidy appearance and providing a source of vexation.

This invention combines with the tongue of laced shoes a fastener of novel construction which will secure the bow-tie of the lace and prevent its accidental loosening and at the same time hold the tongue central and in proper place.

The invention consists of a tab at the upper end of the tongue midway of the longitudinal edges and reduced at its inner end or juncture with the tongue, so as to fold readily, a clasp having its members applied, respectively, to the tab, and tongue to hold the former in a folded position, and a plate applied to the tab and preferably secured in place by means of the clasp member carried thereby, said plate having edgeportions bent or toothed to make positive engagement with the bowtie of the lace and prevent its loosening.

For a full'description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a laced shoe having a fastening constructedin accordance with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the shoe-upper, the tab being thrown upward. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section showing the relation of the parts when the fastening is open. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the holder or toothed plate. 7

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The invention is adapted to be applied to any style, pattern, or type of laced shoe, high or low, for men, women, and children, and when fitted to mens shoes holds the trousers away from the lacing-studs and prevents undue wear thereof. I

The shoe 1 illustrated is of the high pattern and is a ladies laced boot of usual form. The tongue 2 is provided centrally of its upper end with a tab 3, preferably integral therewith and reduced at its lower end or point of juncture with the body of the tongue, so as to fold easily and come between the edges of the upper bordering upon the opening. This tab can be utilized as a pull-piece to be drawn upon to tighten orstraighten the tongue prior to or after the shoe has been laced, and likewise gives a finished appearance to the shoe, conceals the clasp and holder, and constitutes a shield or guard to prevent mens trousers or ladies garments from catching into the parts comprising the fastening and supporter.

The clasp is of the snap variety and consists of a stud 4, secured to the upper portion of the tongue 2 at a point to come opposite the space between crossings of the lace when the shoe is fitted to the foot, and a socket 5 attached to the tab 3. This clasp holds the tab when folded over the bow-tie of the lace. The holderis a plate 6, apertured at one end, as at 7, to receive the member 5, by means of which it is secured to the tab, and has edge portions bent at a right angle and toothed, as indicated at 8, to engage positively with the tie of the lace and prevent casual loosening thereof after the shoe has been laced and otherwise made fast. The holder comes between the tab and the tongue when the tab is folded and is located between the fold or bight a I p 647,824

of the tab and the clasp, and hence can yield to accommodate the bulk of the tie located between the tab and the tongue.

The fastening being applied to a laced shoe in substantially the manner set forth, the tab is folded over the bow-tie 9 after the shoe has been laced and secured and is secured by means of the clasp. The teeth 8 bite into the tie 9 and prevent its accidental loosening, and the bite of the tab engaging with the uppermost crossing of the lace and coming" between the edge of the shoe-upper bordering upon the opening holds the tongue'up and from lateral displacement.

The application of the holder 6 to the tab 3 is of vital importance, as it allows laces of varyingthickness to be used with the same shoe with the certainty of the fastening operating equally well with each Without straining the clasp, since the fold of the tab can readily adapt itself to the bulk of the tie and allow the holder to stand at a greater orless distance from the tongue.

integral flexible tab at its upper end, reduced in width at its lower end or juncture with the body of the tongue to admit of the tab readily folding and adapting itself to the bulk of the tie, and a fastening having, parts applied to the tab and to the upper portion of the: tongue, and adapted to secure the tab when folded and the tie of the lace, substantially as described. I p

2. In a laced shoe, a tongue having a'fiexible tab at its upper end, a clasp comprising interlocking parts applied to the tab and tongue, and a tie-holder comprising a toothed metallic plate extending longitudinally. upon the under side of the flexible tab and-secured thereto, substantially as set forth.

3. In a laced shoe, a tongue having a flexible'tab at its upper end, a clasp comprising cooperating parts applied, respectively, to the tongue and tab to hold the latter in a folded position,and a tie-holder comprising a toothed plate extending long'itudinally upon the under sideofthe tab and provided at one end with an opening for passage of the fastening member thereof, whereby it is secured to the tab, substantially as specified.

4. In a laced shoe, a tongue formed with an integral flexible tab at its upper end, a fastening comprising a stud applied to the upper portion of the tongue and a socket applied to the tab to engage said stud and hold the tab in folded position, and a tie-holder upon the under side of the tab and consisting of a plate apertured at one end for passage of said socket whereby it is'secured to the tab and having its edge portions bent at a right angle and toothed to, positively engage the tie of the lace and prevent casual loosening thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

ALICE M. GIRTANNER. [n s Witnesses:

D. F. EDWARDS, ALFRED GREGORY. 

